Technical Field
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a compound for inhibiting glutathione s-transferase
omega 1 activity, a pharmaceutical composition containing thereof, and a method for
synthesizing the same.
Description of Related Art
[0002] Nowadays, Multi-Drug Resistance (MDR) is believed to be one of the essential topics
of pharmaceutical drug research and development on cancer therapy. In addition to
the well known channel proteins like p-glycoprotein, MRP1, ABCG2, etc, protein enzymes
as metabolic drugs have also been gradually given attention in the field of pharmaceutical
drug development. In which, Glutathione S-Transferase (GST) family protein have been
playing a critical role.
[0003] The GSTs is a phase II metabolic enzyme that favors detoxification of foreign substances
of cells; the foreign substances will be linked with glutathione by the GSTs in order
to reduce their toxicities. Thus, GST family proteins have been found to be highly
expressed in various cancer cells. However, both the fundamental and clinical researches
indicated that the GSTs have been an important factor involved in drug resistance.
[0004] It was found in many studies that one of a protein of the GSTs, GST pi, was essential
in association with the acquired resistance to certain anticancer drugs, and thus
the GST pi inhibitors have been put under the spotlight by pharmaceutical drug researchers
and developers as a main discovering target so as to eliminate such a drug resistance
effect. For instance, Telik Biopharmaceutical Company received a great amount of patents
of various GST pi inhibitors, some of which have been made as drugs, such as TELCYTA
® (Canfosfamide HCl) and TELINTRA
® (Ezatiostat HCl, TLK199).
[0005] Other isoforms of GSTs, namely GST omega family, such as GST omega 1-1 have been
found to be closely associated with drug resistance effects against adriamycin, etoposide,
and platinum anticancer drugs. Furthermore, a depletion of GST omega 1-1 in cancer
cells circumvents drug resistances against arsenic trioxide, cisplatin, daunorubicin,
and etoposide. Nevertheless, inhibitors of GST omega 1 are yet to be discovered nor
developed for addressing the drug resistance effects in cancer cells.
Disclosure of Invention
[0006] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a compound for inhibiting
glutathione s-transferase omega 1 activity is represented by the following Formula
1:

wherein A is p-quino, and R is selected from the group consisting of the following
Formula 1 a and Formula 1b; and wherein n is 1 or 2 in Formula 1 a, and m is 1 or
2, R
1 is H or ArCH
2-, and R
2 is Alkyl
- or Alkyl
- in Formula 1 b:

[0007] According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, a pharmaceutical composition
for inhibiting activity of glutathione s-transferase omega 1 includes an effective
amount of the compound of the aforementioned Formula 1 and a pharmaceutically acceptable
carrier.
[0008] According to yet another embodiment of the present disclosure, a method for synthesizing
the compound of Formula 1, includes the following steps. A Friedel-Crafts acylation
reaction on 2,6-Dimethoxynaphthalene is performed. A halogen reagent is added for
removing two methoxy groups. An intermediate product having a first protecting group
is formed, and then the intermediate product is performed a Claisen-Schmidt condensation
reaction with p-hydroxybenzaldehyde having a second protecting group. A halogen catalyst
is added. An acidic solution is further added for removing the first protecting group.
An unsaturated carbon chain having halogen is added. Then the second protecting group
is removed, and an oxidation reaction is performed by adding a hypervalent iodine
compound for obtaining the compound represented by the Formula 1 a.
[0009] In one example, the halogen reagent can be Boron tribromide.
[0010] In one example, the first protecting group can be Methoxymethyl (MOM), and the second
protecting group can be benzyl.
[0011] In one example, the halogen catalyst can be iodine, and the acidic solution can be
hydrochloric acid solution.
[0012] In one example, the unsaturated carbon chain can be geranyl bromide.
[0013] In one example, the hypervalent iodine compound can be bis-(tri-fluoroacetoxy)-iodobenzene.
[0014] According to the above, the compound represented by Formula 1 of the present disclosure
can be used to inhibit GST Omega 1. The method for synthesizing the compound is based
on the chemical synthetic route to produce different side-chain derivative, hence
the method has the advantage of mass production. The compound represented by Formula
1 is a derivative of β-naphthalene flavonoids (Protoapigenone) derivatives, and links
the side chain derived form isopentane monomer (Formula 1 a) or the side chain derived
form bisamides with naphthyl collateral (Formula 1 b) by ether linkage.
[0015] The compound represented by Formula 1 of the present disclosure targeting GST omega
1 can be a novel anticancer target. Moreover, It has a very high potential for long-term
developing as combined therapeutic agents of a variety of anti-cancer drugs.
Brief Description of The Drawings
[0016] The disclosure can be more fully understood by reading the following detailed description
of the embodiment, with reference made to the accompanying drawings as follows:
Fig. 1 is the result of GSTO1 enzyme activity effected by different compounds having
different side chains.
Detailed Description
[0017] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, a compound represented by the
general Formula 1 is artificially designed and synthesized to be an inhibitory structure
binding against the active site of glutathione s-transferase omega 1, which can be
applied as a potential pharmaceutical drug in cancer cell cytotoxicity in the future.
Example 1
[0018] For evaluating the in vitro growth inhibitory concentrations (GI
50, µM) of the compound represented by Formula 1 of the present disclosure, human oralepithelial
carcinoma cell line (KB), multidrug-resistant nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line (KB-Vin),
human lung adenocarcinoma cell line (A549), and prostate cancer cell line (DU145)
were used in the following experiment. The GI
50 values of Paclitaxel, an anticancer chemotherapy drug, were used as control. The
result of this experiment are shown in Table 1.
[0019] The compounds in Table 1 are derivatives of the compound represented by the general
Formula 1. The main structure of the compound is

and R is represented by number 1-19, wherein the side chain represented by number
1-19 is connected to the left end of the main structure to form the compound represented
by the general Formula 1.
[0020] As shown in Table 1, compounds with side chain No. 11 or No. 12 has better inhibitory
effect against the four aforementioned experimental cancer cells when compared with
the others having other kinds of side chains.
[0021] Further, the compound having side chain No. 11 is an isopentane monomer with an ether
linkage, and the GI
50 value of such a compound inhibiting against four kinds of experimental cancer cells
is 0.2 µM, 0.269µM, 0.382µM, and 0.231µM, respectively. Obviously, the GI
50 value of the compound having side chain No. 11 is well and better than the others
having other kinds of side chains.
[0022] Additionally, the compound having side chain No. 12 has two isopentane monomers on
its side chain. The GI
50 value of such a compound against four kinds of experimental cancer cells is 0.067
µM, 0.335 µM, 0.233 µM, and 0.065 µM, respectively. This compound has a more significant
inhibitory effect against KB cell and DU145 cell.
[0023] It is worth to be mentioned that, while increasing the number of isopentane monomer
on the side chains to three isopentane monomers, the inhibitory effect against the
cancer cells will be significantly reduced (such as the compound having side chain
No. 13 in Table 1). As a result, the inhibitory effect of cancer cells inhibited by
the compound not only depends on the stereo structure of isopentane monomer, but the
number of isopentane monomer also effects.
Example 2
[0024] The following experiment is to prove that the inhibition of the cancer cell growth
caused by the compound having side chain No. 11 or No. 12 mentioned above is associated
with the inhibitory effect of GSTO1 enzyme activity.
[0025] This experiment procedures refers to a GSTO1 substrate assay published by Bachovchin
et al. in 2009, which uses(S-(4-nitrophenacyl)glutathione; 4NPG) as the specific GSTO1 substrate
for evaluating the enzyme activity thereof. First, 100 µl mixture having 2 nM GSTO1,
100 mM Tris (pH 8.0), 1.5 mM EDTA, and 10mM 2-mercaptoethanol were added into each
well of an UV-penetrable 96-well culture plate. Besides, 100 µl buffer having 100
mM Tris (pH 8.0), 1.5 mM EDTA, and 10mM 2-mercaptoethanol were used as blank control.
[0026] The compound (main structure is represented by Formula 1) to be tested in this assay,
having an additional side chain No. 11 and an additional side chain No. 12, respectively,
were represented as compound I and compound II. Furthermore, compound A and compound
B were controls in this assay, in which compound A does not contain the main structure
(Formula 1) of the present disclosure, whereas compound B contains the main structure
(Formula 1) of the present disclosure and has a methyl side chain on the main structure
(Formula 1). The structure of compound A, compound B, compound I and compound II are
shown in the following:

[0027] Compound I, compound II, compound A, and compound B were mixed and reacted with dimethyl
sulfoxide, respectively, and were added into wells of a 96-well culture plate; the
reaction time is 30 min, and the reaction temperature is 25°C. Then, 4NPG were added
to each of the aforementioned mixture to a final concentration of 0.5 mM.
[0028] The substrate 4NPG can specifically bind to GSTO1, and the structure of the aforementioned
compound I and compound II were designed to competitively and structurally bind to
the substrate binding site (active site), so that the competitory effect between compound
I and 4NPG, or compound II and 4NPG, can be estimated by measuring O.D.
305 absorbance of each of the mixtures mentioned above in every minute, after calibrating
with the blank control.
[0029] Fig. 1 is the result of GSTO1 enzyme activity effected by different compounds having
different side chains. Referring to the result, the inhibitory effect of compound
A, which does not contain the main structure (Formula 1) of the present disclosure,
and compound B, which contains the main structure (Formula 1) of the present disclosure
having side chains without isopentane monomer, against GSTO1 is slight, whereas the
compound I and compound II of the present disclosure remains significant results of
competitively binding with GSTO1 against 4NPG. In addition, the inhibitory effect
increases as the side chain extends; this results exactly matches the result of the
aforementioned example 1 (see Table 1).
[0030] According to the above results, the compound I and the compound II in the present
disclosure have the significant cytotoxicity effect toward the cancer cells when compared
to the compound having other side chains. In addition, it is also confirmed that the
structure of the compound I and the compound II can competitively bind with GSTO1
against 4NPG to inhibit the GSTO1 activity.
[0031] Therefore, the pharmaceutical composition for inhibiting activity of glutathione
s-transferase omega 1 including an effective amount of the compound represented by
Formula 1 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier can be a novel anticancer target.
Moreover, the pharmaceutical composition of the present disclosure has a very high
potential for development. It can be long-term developed as combined therapeutic agents
of a variety of anti-cancer drugs.
Example of compound synthesis
[0032] The compound for inhibiting glutathione S- transferase omega 1 activity of the present
disclosure can be obtained by conventional method. For example, 2,6-dimethoxynaphthalene
is performed a Friedel-Crafts acylation reaction. Then a halogen reagent is added
for removing two methoxy groups. An intermediate product having a first protecting
group is formed, and then the intermediate product is performed a Claisen-Schmidt
condensation reaction with p-hydroxybenzaldehyde having a second protecting group.
A halogen catalyst is added. An acidic solution is further added for removing the
first protecting group. An unsaturated carbon chain having halogen is added. Then
the second protecting group is removed, and an oxidation reaction is performed by
adding a hypervalent iodine compound for obtaining the compound represented by the
Formula 1 a.
[0033] The compound (II) of the present disclosure is used as an example to describe the
method for synthesizing the compounds of the present disclosure.
[0034] A flow chart of the method for synthesizing the compound II of the present disclosure
is shown in the following:

[0035] First, anhydrous benzene solution containing 2,6- dimethoxynaphthalene were added
to 1.6 N stannic chloride and stirred in a nitrogen environment. Then, 1.5 N acetyl
chloride were added dropwise and stirred overnight. Afterwards, benzene were removed
by using a rotary evaporator, and then the mixture were extracted with dichloromethane
/ H
2O. Dichloromethane were eliminated by using a rotary evaporator, then, the extraction
were separated by an n-hexane / ethyl acetate column. After separation, 1-acetyl-2,6-dimethoxynaphthalene
can be obtained, and the yield was 86.5 %.
[0036] Afterwards, 1-acetyl-2,6-dimethoxynaphthalene was dissolved in anhydrous dichloromethane,
and 6 N tribromoborane were added in a nitrogen environment at -78 °C and stirred.
After stirring for 2 hours, water was added for removing the remaining tribromoborane.
The remaining organic solvents were eliminated by using a rotary evaporator, and then
this mixture were separated by an n-hexane / ethyl acetate column. After separation,
1-acetyl-2,6-dihydroxy naphthalene can be obtained, and the yield was 93 %.
[0037] 1-acetyl-2,6-dihydroxy naphthalene was dissolved in anhydrous dichloromethane, and
2 N of N, N-diisoproprylethylamine were added to the mixture on ice continuously until
the mixture became transparent. Chloroethyl methyl ether was diluted 40 times with
dichloromethane and then added to the mixture dropwise and stirred. After stirring
for 2 hours, the remaining organic solvents in the mixture were removed by using a
rotary evaporator, and then this mixture were separated by an n-hexane / ethyl acetate
column. After separation, compound 1 can be obtained, and the yield was 47.3 %.
[0038] Claisen-Schmidt condensation was performed between compound 1 and 4-benzyloxy- benzaldehyde.
3 N 4-benzyloxybenzaldehyde were added into an ethanol solution containing compound
1 and stirred, and then 50 % potassium hydroxide solution were added to the ethanol
solution with a volume mixing ratio of 1:1. After stirring in 55°C for 1.5 hours,
organic solvents were removed by using a rotary evaporator, and then this mixed solution
were separated by an n-hexane / ethyl acetate column. After separation, chalcone compound
2 can be obtained, and the yield was 92.6 %.
[0039] Compound 2 was dissolved in a proper amount of pyridine with 2 N iodine added. After
heat refluxing overnight, sodium thiosulfate was added and then the whole mixture
was extracted with ethyl acetate/water; the organic layer of the extract was removed
and then the extract was separated by column chromatography for obtaining β-naphthalene
flavone compound 3; the yield was 65 %.
[0040] Compound 3 was then dissolved in a proper amount of a dichloromethane solution added
with a hydrochloric acid / isopropanol solution with a mixing ratio of 1:10. After
stirring overnight, and filtering the precipitate of the mixture, compound 4 was obtained.
Anhydrous dimethyl amide solution containing 2 N sodium hydride was dropwise added
to a dimethyl amide solution containing compound 4 on ice and in a nitrogen environment
until the color of the mixture turns into red. Afterwards, 2N geranyl bromide solution
were added into the mixture. Water was added after the mixture was stirred in room
temperature for 2 hours, and then the mixture was extracted with ethyl acetate. The
remaining organic solvents were removed by using a rotary evaporator, and then this
mixture were separated by a dichloromethane / methanol column. After separation, compound
5 can be obtained, and the yield was 94 %.
[0041] Compound 5 was dissolved in ethyl acetate, and then 10 % palladium carbon were added.
After catalyzing with hydrogen gas overnight, filtering palladium carbon, and removing
organic solvents by a rotary evaporator, compound 6 with benzyl removed was obtained,
and the yield was 40 %.
[0042] Finally, compound 6 was dissolved in a Acetonitrile / water = 15 : 1 solution, and
then added with 2 N [bis(trifluoroacetoxy)iodo] benzene for oxidation, compound II
having two isopentane monomers on its side chain was obtained, and the yield was 49
%.
[0043] The nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy data of compound II analyzed by
NMR spectrometer is shown in the following : 1 H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ = 9.78 (d,
J = 9.2 Hz, 1H),7.90 (d,J= 9.2 Hz, 1 H), 7.37 (dd, J = 9.2, 2.8 Hz, 1 H), 7.31 (d,
J = 8.8 Hz, 1 H), 7.18 (d, J = 2.4Hz,1 H),7.03-7.00(m,3H),6.41 (d,J=10.0Hz,2H),5.47(bs,1H),
4.16-4.07 (m,2H), 1.94-1.86(m,1 H),1.73-1.61 (m,2H),1.59-1.49(m,1H),1.40-1.14 (m,
6H), 0.98 (d, J = 6.4 Hz, 3H), 0.87 (d, J = 6.8 Hz, 6H) ppm; 13C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3)
δ = 185.4, 180.9, 164.0, 158.0, 156.5, 146.7, 135.2, 132.7, 130.0, 128.6, 124.7, 121.2,
117.8, 117.4, 111.6, 108.6, 69.9, 66.7, 39.5, 37.5, 36.3, 30.1, 28.2, 24.9, 22.9,
22.8, 19.9 ppm; IR (KBr) (cm-1): 3294, 2954, 2927, 2869, 1644, 1599, 1514, 1465, 1427,
1410, 1385, 1367, 1245, 1176, 1129, 1058, 1009; HRESI-MS: C29H33O5, calcd. 461.2323,
found 461.2328.
[0044] Although the present disclosure has been described in considerable detail with reference
to certain embodiments thereof, other embodiments are possible. Therefore, the spirit
and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the embodiments
contained herein.
1. A compound for inhibiting glutathione s-transferase omega 1 activity representing
by the following Formula 1:
wherein A is p-quino, and R is selected from the group consisting of the following
Formula 1 a and Formula 1 b;and
wherein n is 1 or 2 in Formula 1 a, and m is 1 or 2, R1 is H or ArCH2-, and R2 is Alkyl- or Alkyl- in Formula 1 b:

2. A pharmaceutical composition for inhibiting activity of glutathione s-transferase
omega 1 comprising an effective amount of a compound of Formula 1 according to claim
1 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
3. A method for synthesizing a compound of Formula 1 according to claim 1, comprising
the following steps:
performing a Friedel-Crafts acylation reaction on 2,6-Dimethoxynaphthalene;
adding a halogen reagent for removing two methoxy groups;
forming an intermediate product having a first protecting group, and then performing
a Claisen-Schmidt condensation reaction with p-hydroxybenzaldehyde having a second
protecting group;
adding a halogen catalyst;
adding an acidic solution for removing the first protecting group;
adding an unsaturated carbon chain having halogen;
removing the second protecting group; and
performing an oxidation reaction by adding a hypervalent iodine compound for obtaining
the compound represented by Formula 1 according to claim 1.
4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the halogen reagent is Boron tribromide.
5. The method according to claim 3, wherein the first protecting group is Methoxymethyl
(MOM).
6. The method according to claim 3, wherein the second protecting group is benzyl.
7. The method according to claim 3, wherein the halogen catalyst is iodine.
8. The method according to claim 3, wherein the acidic solution is hydrochloric acid
solution.
9. The method according to claim 3, wherein the unsaturated carbon chain is Geranyl bromide.
10. The method according to claim 3, wherein the hypervalent iodine compound is bis-(tri-fluoroacetoxy)-iodobenzene.